For cyclists, joggers and walkers who frequent the neighborhoods surrounding Thomas Dale High School, Melody McLean is a familiar face. On any given day in any kind of weather, neighbors can count on seeing her outside walking with a dog or two or three trotting along beside her. Sometimes, the dogs are McLean’s, but just as often they belong to friends and neighbors. “I love all animals, but dogs are probably my favorite,” she said. “I can’t imagine life without a dog.” McLean has four dogs. Her oldest, Myah, a hound/Australian Shepherd mix, will be 15 in February. She also…

ABOVE: An example of Nikki Foreman’s paintings. Nikki Foreman isn’t particularly forward about her creative side. In fact, the architectural engineer is reluctant to even call herself an artist or writer, despite having completed countless works of art and written rough drafts for two novels. “I feel like such a fraud saying I am a writer, since I have never been published. I will never consider myself a writer until I actually finish something,” she explained. As far as her identity as an artist goes, Foreman experiences a lot of “insecurity at wondering if I am actually good at what…

Andrea Sisson’s Alaskan husky, Donner, doesn’t look a day over five years old, despite having been born in 2008. Few would guess they were in the presence of a senior dog when they see Donner dancing on the end of her leash. Even fewer would realize they’re in the presence of a TV star. Donner isn’t just any Alaskan husky. She worked as one of the mushing dogs on the TV show, “Life Below Zero.” Celebrity runs in her family. Donner’s father, Iceberg, is the lead dog on that TV program. Her mother, Agata, is well-known in the world of…

Terry Rosvall wanted a home garden. But there was a hitch: there weren’t enough bees to pollinate the garden plot. So the Rosvall family adopted two beehives in 2012. “Beekeeping and everything associated with the pollinators have become my passion,” Rosvall said. What began as a hobby to save a home garden has now blossomed into a small business and a growing abundance of hives now known as Reedy Creek Apiary. The beekeeper’s fascination and devotion to bee life and work is for a good reason. According to Reedy Creek Apiary, bee populations are currently on the decline, with beekeepers…

Sawyer Perkins, a pediatric brain cancer contender from Mechanicsville, celebrated her eighth birthday in a big way when the Chester community gathered recently at Heritage Chevrolet to observe and participate with her receiving her first car. “A car? For an 8 year old? Absolutely! We all want to see our kids experience important milestones. It just happens that Sawyer’s terminal illness gives impetus for hers to come a little sooner,” said Kelley Kassay, president of the nonprofit organization Mason’s Toy Box, which along with Carter Myers Automotive, helped to speed up the process of her reaching one of life’s coolest…

At first glance, Anne and Madison Braswell appear to be the typical mother-daughter duo. Through their bright smiles and successes, one would be hard-pressed to imagine the hardships they have faced. North Carolina natives, their family relocated in June 2010, when Anne’s husband, Madison’s father, accepted a job in Chester. On the outside, the family’s life appeared idyllic. Anne’s husband had secured a good job, while Anne took care of their two children, Madison and her older brother Blake. The picture-perfect family of four purchased a home not far from Pocahontas State Park. They were living the dream. But a…